Beware of Greeks bearing gifts, goes the old adage, but for Dilli politicians who have learned to manoeuvre deftly through its byzantine corridors, giving or receiving gifts is an essential public relations tool
Beware of Greeks bearing gifts, goes the old adage, but for Dilli politicians who have learned to manoeuvre deftly through its byzantine corridors, giving or receiving gifts is an essential public relations tool. The culture has obviously percolated down to outstation netas as well who visit the national capital to oil the wheels of power, curry favours or simply to stay in circulation.
Fruits seem to be perennial favourites with netas of all ilk, many of whom have made it a habit to gift their Central leaders fruity delights from their state to remain in their good books.
Consequently, this mango season, the President, Prime Minister and Chief Justice received boxes of choicest litchis and mangoes from Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Alphonso mangoes arrived by the planeload from Maharashtra and as do the famous Shaarifas (custard apple) from Andhra Pradesh. Come the cherry and apple season and it's time for netas from Himachal to get into the act.u00a0 Fruity or just noblesse oblige?
Land ho!
Dr Manmohan Singh recently dazzled foreign service probationers with his humbling wisdom on geopolitics. Much like what China is doing in Africa, the Indian government too has now apparently set its sights on the rich and fertile farmland in South America to solve our food security problems in the future. Since there is an abundance of land and agrarian technology in these counties, it makes good sense for individual Indians to buy land and grow crops there to be shipped back home and add to India's buffer of foodgrains.
There is growing acceptance among policymakers that India too must seek its share of the pie in this global phenomenon. Still, grey areas persist ufffd such as the cost of transportation and financing to buy land abroad, among others. A policy document being prepared by the Ministry of External Affairs, hopefully, would soon address these.
u00a0
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
